Wondering how to feel awake after little sleep? Parents of children with autism are often sleep deprived. Children with autism can have a plethora of sleep issues including difficulty falling asleep, repeatedly waking during the night, going to bed excessively late and waking up way too early. When your child doesn’t sleep, you don’t sleep and this can lead to chronic insomnia and sleep deprivation in autism parents, particularly moms.
How to feel awake after little sleep
It is important to investigate why your child is having trouble falling asleep or is repeatedly waking throughout the night and to build strategies that will help your child get the best sleep possible.
Your child’s sleep issues, affects the whole family and it is important to make sure that you are caring for yourself and continuing to function successfully in your daily life. Lack of sleep can lead to feelings of depression, loss in concentration and anxiety. These tips can help you feel more awake after a short night, more motivated to go through your day and generally happier.
Eat light healthy foods to
You could choose one of these healthy, gluten-free snacks or you could sip on a smoothie. They are easy to digest and won’t leave you feeling overly full (and like you just want to curl up into a ball and nod off mid-day).
Drink plenty of water
Ideally, you should be drinking about 8 full glasses of water per day. It can be tough to remember to drink that much, leaving you dehydrated and tired. If you are starting the day off having had little sleep, it is even more important to make sure that you are drinking at least the recommended amount of water each day if not more.
Move around
Although you may think the last thing you would ever want to do when you are tired is exercise, exercising – even just a little bit – can work wonders when you’re feeling exhausted. This is my favorite yoga program you can do in your office or from your home.
Take in some fresh air
A quick walk will leave you feeling happier and refreshed.
Do something that you’re passionate about during the day
If you are bored by what you are doing during the day, it’s going to be even harder to stay engaged if you are sleep-deprived. If you are exhausted because you are up at night with your child with special needs, it is important to have a job you love and/or to be able to work from home so that you can rest regularly throughout the day.
Chew some natural gum
Apparently chewing gum results in brain stimulation and can make you feel more awake. Ok, why not? If you do choose to chew gum, make sure you choose a natural one that doesn’t have aspartame in it.
Streamline your day to get your priorities done rather than doing all the things
Prioritize! As a special needs parents, it probably feels like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders. You have so much respect
Take a short nap
According to the National Sleep Foundation, 20 minutes is all you need to get all the benefits of a nap.
Use brighter lights
If you’re feeling sleepy, it will help you to spend time in a well-lit place.
Take a break from the computer
Similarly, try to avoid long periods of time on the computer if you feel like you are running out of steam.
Surround your self with awakening scents
Eucalytpus, peppermint and citrus scents such as sweet orange and lemon have been shown to awaken the senses and give you a energy boost. Introduce these scents into your home or work area using essential oils and an essential oil diffuser.
Listen to some upbeat, fast music
Sometimes, all you need is some good, upbeat music, to give you an energy boost.
Get dressed
Sometimes, particularly if you work from home, or if you are a stay at home mom, you may have a tendency to stay in yoga pants or your pyjamas all day, thinking that you’re not going outside any way and no one will see you. Getting dressed and putting yourself together will help you feel more awake and give you an extra confidence boost as well.
Take a cold(er) shower than usual
Rather than taking a warm shower when you wake up, trying taking a colder-than-usual shower to make you feel awake and energized. If you can, take a second cool shower later in the day.
The secret to feeling awake after a short night, is choosing a few of these strategies that resonate with you and putting them into action as soon as you wake up and throughout the day.
More Autism Parenting Resources
- Explaining Autism to Siblings
- Free Autism Resources
- Relaxation Strategies
- Self-Care Rituals for Everyone Who Cares for Someone with Autism
- Coping Strategies (my best strategies for coping with stress as an autism mom)
- Autism Mom Burnout (what it is and 5 tips to avoid it!)
- Happiness Tips (12 of the best for autism moms)
- Work From Home Jobs
- How to Feel Awake After Little Sleep
- Best Self-Help Books for Women
More Autism Resources
- The Successful Interaction with a Child with Autism Course – learn to better understand your autistic child or students with this complete course.
- Autism Activities Workbook Bundle – build communication skills, fine motor skills, sensory play skills and daily living skills, while helping your child or students to successfully manage any difficult behaviors, with these fun, educational, printable activities.
- Sensory Communication Workbook – Build communication skills with simple sensory activities.
- How to Make a Communication Binder Guide & Workbook – Learn how to create a Communication Binder for your child or student with autism using real photos. Follow my expert guide to learn how to use it to increase communication skills.
- Zoo Animals Play Dough Mats Bundle – use these printable play dough mat to work on the names of the animals, build language skills, and increase fine motor strength and precision in a fun, sensory way!
What are your best tips to feel awake after little sleep?
Add your best tips in the comments below.
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